Visitors Flock, Despite Zika, Matthew, Hermine And Pulse

Two hurricanes, a Zika outbreak and the nation’s worst mass shooting aren’t putting a dent in Florida’s biggest industry.

Governor Rick Scott is bragging about a record-breaking 85 million visitors in the first nine months of the year, a 5.5 percent increase over last year. Visit Florida senior research manager Vicki Allen says better air service and other factors helped soften the economic blow.

“So a lot of the news that hit this summer hit after they were planning their trip. But I think gas prices are low and people just wanted to travel. That and we have done some great marketing.”

Scott says the preliminary figures suggest Florida is on target for reaching a goal of 115 million visitors by the end of the year. Domestic tourism increased 5.8 percent in the third quarter, but international travel rose 0.9 percent. Experts say fewer Canadians are coming to Florida because of poor exchange rates.

In the Florida Keys on Election Day, along with the presidential race, one of the most controversial items on the ballot dealt with Zika. In a nonbinding vote countywide, residents in the Florida Keys approved a measure allowing a British company to begin a trial release of genetically modified mosquitoes. Armed with that approval, local officials voted Saturday to try out what they hope will be a new tool in the fight against Zika.

At least that's what officials and representatives of the state's multibillion-dollar tourism industry are thinking in the wake of the news that 15 people have been infected with Zika in a small, trendy neighborhood in Miami.